Joe Gomez was absent from Liverpool’s latest pre-season session after suffering an injury against Sunderland, but Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak both joined.
Gomez is facing another spell on the sidelines with a suspected muscle injury picked up in the opening stages of Saturday’s 4-2 win over Sunderland.
The defender, who was the only senior centre-back available to Andoni Iraola heading into the friendly in Nashville, is set to undergo tests on the severity of the issue.
It was no surprise then that Gomez was not pictured with the rest of the squad as they continued training back in Chicago on Sunday.
Liverpool were, however, joined by three new faces as Wirtz, Isak and Ryan Gravenberch worked alongside their team-mates for the first time this summer.
They greeted the squad on their return to the team hotel after the victory over Sunderland and immediately got to work the following day.
All three players could be involved when the Reds face Wrexham in New York on Wednesday night, which would be a boost to Iraola’s options in midfield and attack.
Ryan Gravenberch could provide short-term centre-back solution
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Gravenberch may even be required to fill in at centre-back, with Jeremy Jacquet also likely to miss another game with precaution taken over his fitness.
With Gomez and Jacquet unavailable, Iraola’s alternatives include 18-year-olds Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye as well as natural left-back Luke Chambers, 22.
Liverpool will not see Virgil van Dijk return until they are back in England, with the captain instead set to begin pre-season at the AXA Training Centre alongside Alisson and Cody Gakpo this week.
Van Dijk, who is certain to remain first-choice starter under Iraola, will then play his first minutes in the Anfield friendly against AS Monaco on August 9.
Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are yet to resume team training despite travelling with the squad to the United States, though the latter is considered close to a return.
One of the main positives in Sunday’s session came with Stefan Bajcetic again involved as the Spaniard works his way back to full fitness.
Bajcetic made a long-awaited return to ball work with the squad last week and is gradually increasing his workload ahead of a potential comeback later in pre-season.
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Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool USA Tour Day 6 – Liverpool FC v AFC Sunderland
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Federico Chiesa applauds the supporters during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and AFC Sunderland at the Nashville SC Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LEVERKUSEN – Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain at the Bay Arena on October 21, 2025, in Leverkusen, Germany. ANP / Hollandse Hoogte / Bart Stoutjesdijk
3D0G50G LEVERKUSEN - Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain at the Bay Arena on October 21, 2025, in Leverkusen, Germany. ANP / Hollandse Hoogte / Bart Stoutjesdijk